Release latch for pre-terminated cassette

ABSTRACT

A release latch for a pre-terminated cassette is described. The pre-terminated cassette includes a release latch to allow removal of the pre-terminated cassette from a patch panel, where the patch panel includes a retaining feature for retaining the pre-terminated cassette. The release latch includes a cantilever beam located on the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette. The cantilever beam has a hinge point that allows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall. The release latch further includes a depressing tab provided at the distal end of the cantilever beam and a latch tab protruding from the surface of the cantilever beam between the hinge point and the depressing tab. The latch tab is capable of engagement with the retaining feature of the patch panel when the cassette is installed in the patch panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/870,038, filed Oct. 10, 2007 and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C.§119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.60/954,863, which was filed Aug. 9, 2007, the full disclosure of whichis incorporated herein by reference. The present patent application alsoclaims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(e) to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/829,070, which was filed Oct. 11, 2006, the fulldisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pre-terminated cassette and, moreparticularly, to a release latch for removing a pre-terminated cassetteinstalled in a patch panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pre-terminated copper or fiber cable cassettes provide quick andreliable installation of cables to patch panels. The pre-terminatedcassettes are assembled according to the customer's specifications priorto shipment. The performance of the cassettes is also verified beforeshipped to the customer. Therefore, customers installing new datacenters or changing existing ones may use pre-terminated cassettes tohelp minimize data center downtime that is generally associated within-site cable terminations, testing and installation.

Prior pre-terminated cassettes include a latch or slide arm located onthe top of the cassette. Once these cassettes are installed in patchpanels, it is often difficult to remove the cassette because the latchis not easily accessible. When a plurality of cassettes are installed inthe patch panels in a data center, it is difficult to disengage thelatch and remove the pre-terminated cassette because the customer isrequired to reach between rows of cables to disengage the latch. Thus,there is a need for a pre-terminated cassette having a release mechanismthat is easily accessible and facilitates its removal from a patchpanel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A release latch for a pre-terminated cassette for installation into apatch panel is described. The pre-terminated cassette includes a releaselatch to allow removal of the cassette from a patch panel, where thepatch panel includes a retaining feature for retaining the cassette. Therelease latch includes a cantilever beam located on a sidewall of thepre-terminated cassette. The cantilever beam has a hinge point thatallows the beam to deflect with respect to the sidewall. The releaselatch further includes a depressing tab provided at the distal end ofthe cantilever beam and a latch tab protruding from the surface of thecantilever beam. The latch tab is located between the hinge point andthe depressing tab. The latch tab is capable of engagement with theretaining feature of the patch panel when the cassette is installed inthe patch panel.

Preferably, each sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette has the releaselatch. Further, the latch tab and the retaining feature of the patchpanel may have shapes complementary to one another. Variouscomplementary shapes may be used, so long as the latch tab and retainingfeature may engage with each other.

The latch tab is preferably capable of inward deflection when thedepressing tab is pushed inwardly with respect to the sidewall of thecassette. The latch tab may disengage from the retaining feature of thepatch panel when the latch tab is deflected inwardly.

In a preferred embodiment, the pre-terminated cassette includes a gripsurface extending from the sidewall of the pre-terminated cassette andlocated adjacent to the depressing tab. For example, the grip surfacemay be a wall extension located at the rear of the pre-terminatedcassette. The grip surface may provide a user with an additional surfaceto grip while inserting or removing a cassette from a patch panel.

A patch panel for receiving a pre-terminated cassette having the releaselatch is also described. The patch panel includes a frame having a topand bottom flange. The panel includes a plurality of top panel tabsextending downwardly from the top flange and a plurality of bottom paneltabs extending upwardly from the bottom flange. The patch panel furtherincludes a plurality of side guides having a top slot adapted to receivea top panel tab and a bottom slot adapted to receive a bottom panel tab.The side guide includes a pair of guide latch tabs. The guide latch tabsextend outwardly from the rear end of the side guide and face oppositedirections. The guide latch tabs may include the retaining feature ofthe patch panel. Preferably, the patch panel retains a pre-terminatedcassette having a release latch when the cassette is received betweenadjacent side guides.

In another embodiment, a pre-terminated cassette for installation into apatch panel, where the panel includes a retaining feature for retainingthe pre-terminated cassette, comprises a release tab. The release tabhas a fixed end connected to the surface of the pre-terminated cassetteand a free end extending along a sidewall of the cassette. The releasetab further includes a hinge portion located between the fixed end andthe free end of the tab. When the tab is depressed inwardly towards thesidewall of the cassette, the free end may interact with the retainingfeature of the patch panel to remove the cassette from the patch panel.Preferably, the release tab lodges between the cassette sidewall and theretaining feature thereby deflecting the retaining feature away from thecassette sidewall.

These as well as other aspects and advantages will become apparent tothose of ordinary skill in the art by reading the following detaileddescription, with reference where appropriate to the accompanyingdrawings. Further, it is understood that this summary is merely anexample and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention asclaimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a rear perspective view of a patch panel and a numberof pre-terminated cassettes with the release mechanism of an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of a number of pre-terminatedcassettes in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventioninstalled in the patch panel illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the patch panel of FIG. 1 with aside guide positioned to be installed in the patch panel;

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear perspective view of the patch panel of FIG. 3with the side guide installed;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial side perspective view of the side guideinstalled in the patch panel illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a partial rear perspective view of one of thepre-terminated cassettes in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention installed in the patch panel of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 illustrates a partial top view of the pre-terminated cassette ofFIG. 6 installed in the patch panel of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial rear perspective view of the pre-terminatedcassette of FIG. 6 installed in the patch panel of FIG. 6 with therelease tabs being depressed;

FIG. 9 illustrates a partial top view of the pre-terminated cassette ofFIG. 6 installed in the patch panel of FIG. 6 with the release tabsbeing depressed;

FIG. 10 illustrates an angled patch panel with the side guides of thepresent invention installed to receive the pre-terminated cassettes;

FIG. 11 illustrates a high-density patch panel with the side guides ofthe present invention installed to receive the pre-terminated cassettesof FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial rear perspective view of a pre-terminatedcassette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 illustrates a partial rear perspective view of the cassette baseof the pre-terminated cassette of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 illustrates a partial perspective view of the cassette base ofthe pre-terminated cassette of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 illustrates a partial top view of the pre-terminated cassette ofFIG. 12 installed in the patch panel illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 illustrates a partial top view of the pre-terminated cassette ofFIG. 12 with the release latch being depressed;

FIG. 17 illustrates a rear perspective view of the patch panel of FIG. 4and a number of pre-terminated cassettes of FIG. 12 that may beinstalled in the patch panel;

FIG. 18 illustrates a rear perspective view of a pre-terminated,high-density Multi-Fiber Push On (MPO) cable assembly in accordance withan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 illustrates an exploded rear perspective view of thepre-terminated, high-density MPO cable assembly of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical patch panel 20 with a plurality ofside guides 50 installed in the patch panel. The patch panel 20 receivesa number of pre-terminated cassettes 80 that are positioned betweenadjacent side guides 50. The pre-terminated cassettes 80 are insertedstraight into the patch panel 20 until the cassettes 80 snap into thepatch panel between adjacent side guides 50.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the patch panel 20 with a sideguide 50 of the present invention. The patch panel 20 includes a frame22 with a top flange 24, a bottom flange 26 and a plurality of openings28. Each end of the patch panel 20 includes a mounting plate 32 withmounting apertures 34 for securing the patch panel to a network rack(not illustrated).

The patch panel 20 includes a plurality of panel tabs 40, 41. Asillustrated in FIG. 3, the panel tabs 40 extend downwardly from the topflange 24 and panel tabs 41 extend upwardly from the bottom flange 26.The panel tabs 40 may be shorter than the panel tabs 41. The panel tabs40, 41 are located near the end of each opening 28 in the patch panel20. The top flange 24 of the patch panel 20 also includes a plurality oforientation notches 42. The orientation notches 42 are positioned behindthe panel tabs 40 extending from the top flange 24 of the patch panelframe 22.

The top flange 24 and the bottom flange 26 of the patch panel alsoinclude a plurality of support flanges 25, 27, respectively. The supportflanges 25 and 27 center each pre-terminated cassette and help guideeach pre-terminated cassette as the cassettes are installed in the patchpanel.

FIG. 3 also illustrates one of the side guides 50 of the presentinvention before it is installed in the patch panel 20, and FIGS. 4 and5 illustrate the side guide 50 installed in the patch panel 20. The sideguides 50 may include a retaining feature in order to retain apre-terminated cassette in the patch panel 20. In addition to thesupport flanges 25 and 27, the side guides 50 guide the pre-terminatedcassette 80 so that the cassettes 80 are properly positioned in thepatch panel 20. The side guides 50 also ensure that the cassettes 80 aresecured to the patch panel 20.

The top 52 and bottom 54 of each side guide 50 includes an opening orslot 56, 57, respectively. As discussed below, when the side guide 50 isinstalled in the patch panel 20, the slot 56 receives one of the paneltabs 40 and the slot 57 receives one of the panel tabs 41. The sideguide 50 also includes guide tabs 60 positioned in the side guide 50near the top 52 and bottom 54 of the side guide 50. The guide tabs 60are designed to engage the panel tabs 40, 41 when the side guide 50 isinstalled in the patch panel 20.

The top 52 of the side guide 50 also includes an orientation tab 62. Theorientation tab 62 lines up with the orientation notch 42 in the patchpanel 20 to ensure the side guide 50 is properly installed in the patchpanel 20. The center of each side guide 50 includes a pair of flexibleguide latch tabs 64 that extend outwardly from the back of the sideguides 50. The guide latch tabs 64 include a lip 66 that engages theside wall 82 of the pre-terminated cassette 80 (see FIG. 2 and FIGS.6-9) when installed in the patch panel 20. Alternatively, the guidelatch tabs 64 include a lip that engages to the latch tab 128 of thepre-terminated cassette 115 (see FIGS. 12-17) or the latch tab 128 ofthe pre-terminated, high-density Multi-Fiber Push On (MPO) cableassembly 150 (see FIGS. 18-19) when installed in the patch panel 20.

The side guides 50 are slid into the patch panel 20 so that the paneltabs 40, 41 are positioned in the slots 56, 57, respectively. The paneltabs 40 and the panel tabs 41 are keyed to fit only into slot 56 andslot 57, respectively, to ensure the side guide 50 is properly installedin the patch panel. Once the side guides 50 are slid in the patch panel20, the guide tabs 60 engage the panel tabs 40, 41. Maintaining theorientation tab 62 so that it is in line with the orientation notches 42also ensures that the side guide 50 is properly installed in the patchpanel 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the side guides 50 are installed in thepatch panel 20 so that the side guides 50 are flush with the patch panelframe 22 and the orientation tabs 62 are positioned in the orientationnotches 42 in the patch panel 20.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6-9, the pre-terminated cassette 80 inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a pairof release tabs 84. The release tabs 84 extend from the rear corner ofthe cassette 80 and are positioned along the side walls 82 of thepre-terminated cassette 80. The release tabs 84 include a hinge portion86 with a free end 88. The free end 88 extends downwardly toward thecassette side wall 82. The release tabs 84 are similar to the latch armof the modular plug disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,993,236, assigned tothe assignee of the present invention and herein incorporated byreference.

FIGS. 2, 6 and 7 illustrate the pre-terminated cassette 80 installed inthe side guide 50 in the patch panel 20. The lip 66 of the guide latchtab 64 engages the side wall 82 of the pre-terminated cassette 80 tomaintain the pre-terminated cassette 80 in the patch panel 20. Therelease tabs 84 of the pre-terminated cassette 80 are located adjacentto one of the guide latch tabs 64.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, to remove the pre-terminated cassette80 from the patch panel 20, the release tabs 84 are depressed to begindisengagement of the guide latch tab 64 from the cassette side wall 82.The release tab 84 lodges between the cassette side wall 82 and theguide latch tab 64 thereby displacing the guide latch tabs 64. When therelease tab 84 is fully depressed, the guide latch tab 64 clears theside wall 82 of the cassette enabling the pre-terminated cassette 80 tobe removed from the patch panel 20.

The pre-terminated cassette 80 and the release mechanism of thisembodiment of the present invention may also be used with an angledpatch panel or with high-density patch panels. For example, FIG. 10illustrates an angled patch panel 120 with the side guides 50 of thepresent invention for receiving pre-terminated cassettes 80. FIG. 11illustrates a high-density patch panel 220 with the side guides 50 ofthe present invention installed to receive the pre-terminated cassettes80.

The release mechanism for the pre-terminated cassettes 80 enables thecustomer to quickly remove a pre-terminated cassette from a patch panelwithout any tools and with the use of only one hand for any desiredmoves, additions or changes.

FIGS. 12-17 illustrate a pre-terminated cassette 115, which is anadditional embodiment of the pre-terminated cassette of the presentinvention. This additional embodiment of the present invention issimilar to the pre-terminated cassette 80 described in reference toFIGS. 6-9. For instance, this additional embodiment may be installed inthe same patch panel 20 described above that pre-terminated cassette 80may be installed in. As depicted in FIG. 17, patch panel 20 may receivea number of pre-terminated cassettes 115 such that the pre-terminatedcassettes 115 may be positioned between side guides 50. Thepre-terminated cassettes 115 may be inserted straight into the patchpanel 20 until the cassettes 115 snap into the patch panel betweenadjacent side guides 50. However, unlike pre-terminated cassette 80, theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 12-17 has a different release mechanismthan the release mechanism of pre-terminated cassette 80. The followingdetails the release mechanism of the pre-terminated cassette 115.

FIG. 12 illustrates a partial rear perspective view of thepre-terminated cassette 115. Pre-terminated cassette 115 may have acassette base 121 and a cassette cover 123. The cassette base 121includes a release latch 122. Alternatively, the cassette cover 123could include the release latch. FIGS. 13-14, which are perspectiveviews of the cassette base 121 of the pre-terminated cassette 115, showthe release latch 122 in greater detail.

The pre-terminated cassette 115 includes a pair of release latches 122.While FIGS. 12-14 depict partials views of one side of thepre-terminated cassette or the cassette base, it should be understoodthat the accompanying side has a substantially similar release latchdesign. The release latch 122 is located at the side wall 125 of thepre-terminated cassette base 121. The release latch 122 is a cantileverbeam 124 having a hinge point 126, a latch tab 128, and a depressing tab130. The cassette base 121 preferably includes a wall extension 134extending from the edge of the cassette base 121. The wall extension 134is located at the rear of the cassette base 121 and above the releaselatch 122.

A slot 136 in the side wall 125 of the pre-terminated cassette base mayoperate to form the cantilever beam 124. As depicted, the slot 136 islocated toward the bottom of the pre-terminated cassette base. The slotmay extend from the hinge point 126 to the wall extension 134.

The release latch 122 further includes a latch tab 128. The latch tab128 may be a protrusion from the cantilever beam 124 of thepre-terminated cassette base 121. The release latch further includes adepressing tab 130. When the depressing tab 130 is depressed inward, thelatch tab 128 will move inward because the latch tab 128 is locatedbetween the cantilever hinge point 126 and the depressing tab 130.Additionally, the side wall 125 of the cassette base 121 may include awall extension 134. This wall extension is located at the rear of thecassette base 121 and preferably located above the depressing tab 130.The wall extension preferably operates as a grip surface and mayadvantageously provide additional grip for a customer when the customeris depressing the depressing tab 130 in order to install or remove apre-terminated cassette.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the pre-terminated cassette base121 includes a notch 138 in the rib 140 of the interior 142 of thecassette base 121, as shown in FIG. 14. The notch 138 may be located onan interior rib 140 to provide clearance for the release latch 122.Further, the notch 138 may operate as a positive stop for the releaselatch 122 to prevent excessive deflection of the cantilever beam 124 ofthe release latch 122. Excessive deflection may cause excessive stressat the hinge point 126 of the cantilever beam. The notch 138 preferablylimits the stress at the hinge point 126, which may increase thestructural stability and strength of the release latch.

A pre-terminated cassette such as pre-terminated cassette 115 may beeasily installed in and removed from the patch panel described above.FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the pre-terminated cassette 115 installed inthe side guide 50 of the patch panel 20. The lip 66 of the guide latchtab 64 of the patch panel 20 engages the latch tab 128 of the releaselatch 122 to maintain the pre-terminated cassette 115 in the patch panel20. For purposes of engaging one another, the guide latch tab 64 and thelatch tab 128 have complementary shapes. It should be understood thatwhile FIGS. 15 and 16 depict one example of complementary shapes for theguide latch tab and latch tab, other shapes for the guide latch tab andthe latch tab are possible as well, so long as the guide latch tab andthe latch tab engage. When the pre-terminated cassette 115 is fullyinserted into the patch panel 20, the latch tab 128 may snap and lockbehind the guide latch tab 64. When the latch tab 128 engages the guidelatch tab 64, the patch panel 20 firmly locks and holds thepre-terminated cassette 115 in place.

Further, the respective latches of the patch panel 20 and thepre-terminated cassette 115 operate to hold the pre-terminated cassette115 firmly in place in the patch panel in the event of a mechanical loadbeing applied to the pre-terminated cassette. The release latch 122 ispreferably a self-energizing latch, such that the latch increasesengagement with the patch panel retaining feature as the cassetteexperiences rearward or side loading. For instance, in the scenariowhere a rearward and/or a sideward load is applied to the pre-terminatedcassette 115, the guide latch tab 64 of the patch panel 20 and the latchtab 128 of the pre-terminated cassette 115 increase engagement. Morespecifically, rear or side loading on the pre-terminated cassette 115will cause the guide latch tab 64 and latch tab 128 to engage with eachother even more tightly than a scenario of no load. For example, if thecable of a pre-terminated cassette is accidentally pulled, yanked, ortwisted, the guide latch tab 64 and the latch tab 128 will increaseengagement with each other and the pre-terminated cassette 115 willremain secure in the patch panel 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, to remove the pre-terminated cassette 115from the patch panel 20, the depressing tabs 130 may be depressed tobegin disengagement of the guide latch 64 from the latch tab 128 of thepre-terminated cassette. In order to remove the pre-terminated cassette115 from the patch panel, a customer may grasp the pre-terminatedcassette 115 by grasping the wall extension 134 and the depressing tab130, press the depressing tab inward, and pull the pre-terminatedcassette 115 out of the patch panel 20. When the depressing tab isdepressed or pushed inward, as indicated in FIG. 16 by the dotted line,the latch tab 128 is also deflected inward. The inward motion of thedepressing tab and the latch tab 128 disengages the latch tab from thelip 66 of the guide latch tab 64 of the patch panel 20. The latch tab128 may clear the lip 66 of the guide latch 64 of the patch panel 20.When the latch tab 128 clears the lip 66 of the guide latch 64, thepre-terminated cassette 115 may be easily removed from the patch panel20.

As with pre-terminated cassette 80, the pre-terminated cassette 115 andthe release latch of this embodiment of the present invention may alsobe used with an angled patch panel or with high-density patch panels.For example, FIG. 10 illustrates an angled patch panel 120 with the sideguides 50 of the present invention that may receive pre-terminatedcassettes such as pre-terminated cassette 80 or pre-terminated cassette115. FIG. 11 illustrates a high-density patch panel 220 with the sideguides 50 of the present invention installed to receive thepre-terminated cassettes.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that thepre-terminated cassette 115 requires very little compression to releasethe latch and disengage the cassette during intentional removal of thecassette from the patch panel. The cantilever beam may be easilydeflected upon pressure being applied. Further, as with pre-terminatedcassette 80 having latch 84 described above, the release latch 122 forthe pre-terminated cassette 115 enables the customer to quickly remove apre-terminated cassette from a patch panel without any tools and withthe use of only one hand for any desired moves, additions, or changes.

Additionally, the wall extension feature of the pre-terminated cassette115 advantageously provides a convenient structure for a customer tograsp while removing the pre-terminated cassette from a patch panel. Thegrip allows a customer to avoid the need to grasp the cable of thepre-terminated cassette in order to assist with removal of the cassettefrom a patch panel. For instance, in the scenario where thepre-terminated cassette 115 is a fiber optic pre-terminated cassette, itis not desired to require the customer to grasp the fiber optic cable toassist with removal of the cassette from the patch panel. If a customergrasps the fiber optic cable to assist with removal, damage may occur tothe fiber optic connector terminations or the fibers. The release latchand wall extension described allows a user to easily remove apre-terminated cassette from a patch panel without the need to grasp thecable to assist with removal.

FIGS. 18-19 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.Specifically, FIGS. 18-19 illustrate a pre-terminated, high-densityMulti-Fiber Push On (MPO) cable assembly 150 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. As depicted in FIGS. 18-19, the cassetteassembly 150 includes the same release latch 122 described above inreference to pre-terminated cassette 115. Therefore, the cassetteassembly 150 may be installed in the same patch panel 20 described abovethat both pre-terminated cassette 80 and pre-terminated cassette 115 maybe installed in.

FIG. 19 depicts an exploded view of the pre-terminated, high-density MPOcable assembly 150. Cassette assembly 150 includes a base 152 and acover 154. The base and cover may snap together. The cassette assembly150 further includes MPO style adapters 156 that may snap into base 152.The base may include rectangular holes 158 to retain the MPO styleadapters 156. The rectangular holes 158 may receive and lock the MPOstyle adapters 156. While six rectangular holes 158 are shown, fewerholes 158 may be provided if fewer MPO style adapters 156 are needed.

A multi-fiber cable 160 may be terminated with MPO optical fiberconnectors 162. The fiber connectors 162 may be mated to the MPO styleadapters 156 when the connectors and adapters are installed in the base152. The cable 160 may be attached to the base 152 with a strain relieffitting 164 and retaining nut 166. The strength members of the cable 160may preferably be attached to the base with a screw 168 and nut 170. Thebase may contain a boss 172 that provides a hole for the screw 168.Further, gussets 174 may be added to the boss 172 for additionalstrength. Attaching the strength member to the base preferably providesadditional pull strength required during field cable installation.

Cassette assembly 150 may also include an angled profile 180 at the rearof the cassette. Angled profile 180 may operate to provide clearance forinsertion and removal of cassettes into a populated patch panel. This isadvantageous for a variety of reasons. For instance, a customer mayreach between cassettes to take out an individual cassette withoutdisturbing other cassettes. Further, the angled profile 180 may provideadditional grip for a customer to grasp while inserting or removingcassette 150 from patch panel 20. The angled profile 180 may allow acustomer to avoid the need to grasp the cable 160 in order to assistwith removal from a patch panel. In addition, because cassette assembly150 has the angled profile, it is not essential to include the wallextension 134 to provide additional grip. However, it should beunderstood that cassette assembly 150 may include the wall extension 134to provide additional grip.

As discussed above, the cassette assembly 150 may be installed in apatch panel, such as patch panel 20. Cassette assembly 150 havingrelease latch 122 may also be used with an angled patch panel or with ahigh density patch panel. For example, in a preferred embodiment, thecassette assembly 150 may be installed in the angled patch panel 120illustrated in FIG. 10. Due to the angled profile 180 of the cassetteassembly 150, a cassette may be inserted into a populated angled patchpanel 120 without being obstructed by an adjacent cassette alreadyinstalled. Similarly, a cassette may be removed from a populated angledpatch panel 120 without being obstructed by an adjacent cassetteinstalled in the patch panel.

Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth inthe foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way ofillustration only and not as limitation.

It should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are examplesonly and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the presentinvention. The claims should not be read as limited to the describedorder or elements unless stated to that effect. Therefore, allembodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the followingclaims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.

1. A patch panel for receiving a pre-terminated cassette, the patchpanel comprising: a frame having a top flange and a bottom flange; aplurality of top panel tabs extending downwardly from the top flange; aplurality of bottom panel tabs extending upwardly from the bottomflange; a plurality of side guides connected to the frame, each of theside guides having a top slot adapted to receive a top panel tab, abottom slot adapted to receive a bottom panel tab, a plurality of guidetabs for engaging the top panel tab and the bottom panel tab, and a pairof guide latch tabs for retaining a pre-terminated cassette.
 2. Thepatch panel of claim 1, wherein the guide latch tabs extend outwardlyfrom a rear end of the side guide and face opposite directions.
 3. Thepatch panel of claim 1, wherein the frame has a plurality of supportflanges for supporting the pre-terminated cassette.
 4. The patch panelof claim 1, wherein each of the side guides has an orientation tab forengaging an orientation notch on the frame.
 5. The patch panel of claim1, wherein each of the guide latch tabs has a lip for engaging asidewall of the pre-terminated cassette.
 6. The patch panel of claim 1,wherein each of the guide latch tabs has a lip for engaging a latch tabof the pre-terminated cassette.